"GS" redirects here. For the numerical value of a player's equipment, see gear score.

Goldshire is the second humantown that most human characters visit during their adventures, usually at level 5, but sometimes as low as level 4 or even level 6. Goldshire is centrally located just southwest outside of Northshire and has most low level class trainers and some profession trainers. It has the first Inn that most human characters will encounter — the Lion's Pride Inn.

Goldshire has roads that lead to Stormwind City to the northwest, Northshire Abbey to the northeast, Westfall to the west, and Lakeshire (Redridge Mountains zone) to the east. Its prime location makes it an important trade town. Travelers, merchants, adventurers, Stormwind guards, and priests from the abbey all stop and make regular visits to the town on their way to and from Stormwind, usually enjoying the hospitality of the Lion's Pride Inn, one of the most respectable ale houses in Azeroth.

Heavily protected and patrolled by the Stormwind guards, it sports a population of 7,000 citizens [1] — mostly farmers, miners, and traders. The leader is an elected Marshal, and the position is currently occupied by Marshal Dughan. Many refugees from Westfall move to Goldshire and Elwynn Forest in an attempt to escape the Defias Brotherhood. It is considered a village by Stormwind standards.

The Orcs have began an invasion from the Burning Steppes and into Northshire Abbey. While the invasion is growing, the orcs that have settled in Elwynn Forest are mostly scouts and peons, and pose little threat to Goldshire or its residents.

There have been rumors of murloc attacks near the rivers to the east of Goldshire, especially near Stone Cairn Lake, as well a fatal attack on two Stormwind guards. A report by Guard Thomas states that the murlocs pose a significant threat to Goldshire and are, at a minimum, affecting the region's fishing industry. There is a bounty on murloc fins placed by the Stormwind army. They are found at Stone Cairn Lake and Crystal Lake.

Kobold clans have infested the Fargodeep and Jasperlode mines, forcing out the local workers. While they don't pose much of a threat to Goldshire, their foothold in Elwynn Forest will only grow stronger if ignored.

While not really a threat to Goldshire, the large population of Mangy Wolf and Young Forest Bear in the region are quite aggressive, especially in the area of the Eastvale Logging Camp and Stone Cairn Lake. Forest spiders are also a threat, known for their deadly poison and trapping webs. They are found near Goldshire, near the mines, near Eastvale Logging Camp, and near Westbrook Garrison.

One of the greatest dangers to an inexperienced explorer is the large number of criminals that lurk in the forests. They have not only made camps throughout the forest, but also taken over farms and settlements that once belonged to human peasants. They roam the forest, robbing and killing many who enter. Unlike other mobs, like wolves and spiders, bandits are far more intelligent. When attacking one, they will call for the aid of any others that are nearby.

A bit to the north of Goldshire there is a house with skinning and leatherworking trainers. On the second floor of this house six children can sometimes be seen forming the pattern of a pentagram, silent and unmoving. They will occasionally move out of the house to walk/run in a pentagram formation.

In their house around 7:40 am, a soundfile will play something eerie, usually "You will die".

Alliance (and Horde) players of all levels can frequently be found dueling in or near Goldshire. On RP realms, it is also a hub for role-players, perhaps because of the relaxed, serene environment of Elwynn Forest. It does attract a large number of non-roleplayers too, even on RP realms, and these players cause disruptive behavior such as communicating in "l33t" or "txt" speak, cybering, and spamming the /say and /yell chat channels, aka the griefer.

Some role-players have begun to call it "Whoreshire", "Pornshire", or a "Noob" hangout because of this, and openly refuse to go anywhere near the place. Appropriately, on some realms, it has earned the title "The Las Vegas of WoW". In fact, it is now debated whether the Barrens Chat has been brought back from the dead in the form of "Goldshire Chat".

Goldshire is also a 4-player map for Warcraft III. War and hunger have brought interlopers to Elwynn Forest, endangering the town of Goldshire. The woods must be swept free of this threat so that masons can begin laying the foundation of the new Stormwind City. The town of Goldshire is in the center and consists of a tavern.